Latvia tightens firearm storage and transport rules

Latvia’s government on Tuesday approved stricter requirements for storing and transporting firearms and ammunition to reduce the risk of unauthorised access, LSM reported.

The changes apply mainly to private owners of firearms for self-defence, hunting and sport. Storage requirements will vary according to the category and number of weapons, and certain owners will have to introduce additional security measures at storage locations.

During transport or carrying, firearms must be unloaded and packed in a case, gun bag or other purpose-made container. Ammunition must be packed separately or placed in a separate compartment within the firearm’s container.

An alarm system that detects break-ins and transmits an alert will be required for owners of category A firearms. The requirement will also apply to owners of firearms for sporting use who want to acquire more than 10 firearms and high-energy air guns.

Until now, firearms could be kept in a locked safe or metal cabinet or box, or in a commercially made safe of another material designed for firearm storage. The new rules address the limits of these passive security measures, which do not by themselves provide timely information about a possible break-in or unauthorised access.

The amendments also bring Latvia’s rules on acquiring and storing weapons into line with the requirements of an EU directive.